The population boom in Airdrie continued at a rapid pace over the past year, the city’s official 2014 census reports.

Airdrie officially grew by 10.76 per cent, up from 8.42 per cent in 2013, and 5.92 per cent in 2012.

That amounts to 5,331 more people in the past year, or 15 new residents per day, compared to 2013’s growth of 3,849 or 11 new residents per day.

“Growth continues to be significant in Airdrie,” Airdrie Mayor Peter Brown says in a news release. “People move here as a lifestyle choice, enjoying our friendly community with great recreational and arts choices. Our challenge is to continue to develop our community in a way that makes sense today and tomorrow to maintain our excellent lifestyle.”

By comparison, Calgary grew by a third of Airdrie’s rate. Calgary’s recently published results of the 2014 census noted the city’s population as 1,195,194, an increase of 3.3 per cent over 1,156,686 in 2013.

The census was presented to Air­drie council at its meeting Aug. 5.

New homes are growing at a great rate.

In the past year, 1,773 new homes were built by April 15, an increase of 9.73 per cent over the year before. Now there are 20,003 dwellings in Airdrie, including single-family and multi-family homes. Calgary has 478,223 dwellings.

The areas with the greatest growth in Airdrie were Windsong, a community in the southwest under development by Mattamy Homes, and King’s Heights, on the east side of Airdrie by Melcor Developments Ltd. Also experiencing great growth was the area between Main Street and 8th Street S.W., and 1st Avenue N.W. and Railway Gate.

Airdrie’s census was conducted online, then followed up in person with those who didn’t respond online. This year, 58.84 per cent of residents completed the survey online, up from 46.54 per cent of residents who did so in 2013.

Completing the census provides the city with information to help plan for the future, says Sharon Pollyck, manager of legislative services and corporate communications.

“Accurate census numbers are used in determining grant levels from other orders of government and in our own community planning,” she says.

Complete census information will be posted on the City of Airdrie’s website this fall.

cyoung@calgaryherald.comTwitter.com/CalHeraldHomesFacebook.com/CalHeraldHomes